Nail problems

Although non-organic and non-functional, nails play an important role in enhancing the beauty and appearance of our hands and feet. The structure of the nails contains keratin tissues, a type of protein with water and fat. The general health of nails including their thickness, strength and growth is largely dependent on hereditary factors. However, there are several other nail problems that can be caused due to lack of proper care, negligence and vitamin and protein deficiencies caused due to improper diet. People of all ages can be affected by various nail problems that require professional help from dermatologists and doctors while some of the other common problems can be easily treated with self-help techniques and minor changes in the regular habits.

Given below are some of the common nail problems and their symptoms:

• Brittle Nails: The loss of fat and water can cause brittle nails, further leading to the splitting of the cells and resulting in weak and frail nails. To avoid developing brittle nails make sure that you wear gloves while cleaning the house or washing dishes. Nail polish removers often tend to dehydrate nails and thus avoid too much use of removers. If your nails have been in water for a long time, massage the base of your nail plates with a moisturizer or cream.
• Spoon Nails: Trauma to the nail matrix can cause spoon nails, which is identified as a deformity of the nail. As the name suggests, you can identify a spoon nail if you find the edges of your nail plate have curled up. Spoon nails are usually expected to grow out within a few months but in case they do not, a serious problem might be anticipated. It is advisable to treat spoon nails with proper medication before you visit a nail technician. Spoon nails are considered to be a hereditary problem. They might sometimes even lead to more serious fungus infection. Spoon nails can also be a result of iron deficiency or malnutrition.
• Hang Nail: Any kind of tear in the nail folds or in the nail cuticles may cause hang nails which may happen due to the tendency of the cuticles of sticking to the nail plates. While the cuticles try to stick with the nail plate, the nails keep growing, sometimes leading the stretched parts of the cuticles to tear out. Therefore, it is advisable to keep the cuticles soft by constantly massaging them with cream or lotion.
• Fungal Infection: Fungal Infections are one of the most common nail problems wherein the nails start looking disorderly and get thicker and discolored. As a result, the nails start breaking off. While mild infections may be cured with the help of ketoconazole and griseofulvin, severe problems may need immediate diagnosis and advice from a doctor.
• Discolored Nails: Minor injuries to the nails may cause leukonychia, resulting in small white marks on the nails and stay for weeks and even months before they disappear on their own. Severe nail injuries can turn the nail color into black or purple indicating the clotting of blood in that area, which goes away with the healing of the injury. However, any color change that has not been the effect of an injury may be caused due to melanoma or can be even a symptom of nail infection.

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